Anos lay peacefully on Isabella Ruth's lap, his head resting against her soft lap pillow after the warmth of the hotpot. His eyes were closed, breaths steady, like he had finally let go of the storm pressing against his chest.

'Anos… he's suppressing his feelings,' Isabella thought, her slender hand brushing through her son's short black hair, the strands slipping between her fingers like silk. Her heart tightened as she watched his calm, sleeping face. 'He's trying to be strong. But a child shouldn't have to carry such weight. He needs time… time to break through this grief.'

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she leaned down a little, drinking in the sight of her son's peaceful expression. For just a moment, he wasn't the boy destined for greatness, burdened by the system, memories, and responsibility. For just a moment, he was simply her child.

Isabella closed her eyes, sinking into the ocean of Celestia Ruth's memories that still lingered inside her soul. The rush of emotions struck her—images of Anos as a baby, his first smile, his first unsteady steps, his laughter echoing in the courtyards… all the little things she had missed while building her foothold in Soul Haven. Happiness and sorrow blended together in her chest, an ache that only a mother could feel.

Then, a particular memory struck her sharply—Anos's martial spirit awakening. Her eyes snapped open.

'Three martial spirits? And… innate full soul power at level 20?!' Isabella's brows furrowed as the memory unfolded before her.

She whispered under her breath, almost afraid of her own words, "Golden rope napkin… Demonic Evil Dragon… and Golden Good Dragon."

The image of her son with those two terrifying dragon arms flashing in her mind made her heart throb between awe and disbelief.

'And two soul bands already… the first purple one around 1,000 years, the second nearly 6,000 years.' She clenched her fingers lightly on his hair, stunned by his sheer abnormality. 'He turned the golden rope napkin into a Life Devouring Staff like it was second nature…'

Her gaze softened as she whispered, almost reverently, "A genius… my son… destined to stand at the very top of this Soulspire World."

Her fingers lingered on his cheek, caressing gently. But her thoughts turned once more, recalling how Celestia Ruth had secured maids and disciples for Anos with a mixture of promises and sharp intimidation. Chloe and Cauli… loyal girls now bound to Anos.

'Disciples and maids, huh… perhaps it isn't such a problem. It's what he needs to grow.' Isabella's lips curved slightly as her eyes glimmered with thought.

Her voice rang clear across the quiet woods, "Lira, Cauli, Chloe—come here."

The words rolled into the trees, steady and commanding.

"Hm? Teacher?" Lira tilted her head, brows furrowed.

"Did Mistress call us?" Cauli blinked, confused, glancing at her senior.

Chloe smiled knowingly, brushing dust from her robe. "Yes. Let's go. Mistress rarely calls in such a tone."

The three of them moved toward the lake, their steps echoing softly. Lira and Cauli exchanged puzzled looks, a faint competitiveness sparking in their eyes.

Upon arriving, Cauli and Chloe instinctively looked around, expecting to see Celestia Ruth's figure.

"She's here." Isabella's calm voice drew their attention. She pointed at her chest with a graceful motion, her eyes sharp.

The three froze.

"Celestia Ruth… she was my clone. She has returned, fusing back into me." Isabella's voice carried both authority and a strange melancholy.

Shock flickered across the maids' faces, but Chloe was the first to bow gracefully. "Mistress."

Cauli followed, bowing deeply, her tone steadier than her age suggested. "Teacher."

Lira, after a heartbeat of hesitation, bowed with them. Her eyes, however, flicked to the boy sleeping on Isabella's lap.

'What an… unusual mother and son,' Isabella thought, lips curving faintly as she nodded. "Enough. You may rise."

Her gaze shifted, fixing on Lira. "Lira, from this day forward… Cauli is your junior sister."

"What?!" Lira blurted out, staring at Cauli with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Junior sister?! Teacher, that's—this is too sudden!"

Her protest made Cauli flinch, but Isabella's tone was firm, calm. "There is nothing sudden. Cauli is already level 13… at only six years old."

The words struck like thunder.

'Level 13… at six years old? Full innate soul power?!' Lira's mind raced, stunned at the revelation.

Meanwhile, the boy stirred.

'Mm… soft. Warm…' Anos's thoughts blurred in a haze as he slowly realized his head was still lying on Isabella's lap.

"Mother…" he mumbled, voice hoarse from sleep as his eyes fluttered open.

"Anos." Isabella leaned down, her face entering his view, her voice soft as a breeze. "Did you rest well?"

His eyes widened when realization dawned—his head, his mother's lap, her gaze watching him gently. Heat rushed to his face.

"M-Mother… this position—"

"Did you have a good sleep?" Isabella interrupted, her lips curving into a tender smile, her voice so soothing it left no room for protest.

"Ah… um… yeah." Anos replied awkwardly, trying to avert his gaze. But he felt three more pairs of eyes drilling into him.

"Teacher," Lira's voice cut in, edged with curiosity. "This boy is…?"

"Oh, him?" Isabella's smile brightened as her fingers absently stroked Anos's hair. "He is my son."

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.

"Ehh?!" Lira's eyes went wide. "T-Teacher's… son?!" She stared at the boy on Isabella's lap like the world had just turned upside down.

Isabella only chuckled softly, caressing Anos's cheek. "Yes. My son. And from now on, you will treat him as such. If you wish… you may call him little brother."

Anos blinked, the corner of his lips twitching between shyness and amusement. "Little brother…?" he thought, half-embarrassed, half-warmed by the idea.

Reluctantly, he pushed himself upright, leaving his mother's lap. His gaze lingered for a moment on the spot where his head had rested, before shifting back to her face.

"Mm. I had a good sleep." His smile mirrored hers as he added softly, "Thank you, Mother."

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